The agreement between Hitachi Rail Europe and GCRE will test the latest rail technology at the Welsh testing facility in Onllwyne. Hitachi will use GCRE’s facility to test future rolling stock and its battery technology, which has been co-developed with Sunderland’s Turntide. Hitachi and GCRE see the opportunity to make the site a hub for digital rail technology by testing both digital signalling and infrastructure monitoring solutions.
Hitachi has developed digital solutions that can automate track, overhead lines, and vegetation monitoring, to pinpoint faults and reduce costs. GCRE can support the next stages of development, which include using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict areas at risk of a fault and worthy of preventative maintenance.
Currently, testing new technology takes place on the existing UK rail network. The GCRE facility increases flexibility and opportunities to conduct testing, shortening the timeline to improve and validate new innovations. GCRE will help modernise the railway by closing the gap between development and adoption.
The GCRE is a purpose-built rail innovation centre being constructed in southern Wales that will provide a site for research, testing, and certification of rolling stock, infrastructure, and new rail technologies. The site will provide services for the UK and European markets. Currently, there is no dedicated, purpose-built facility for rail infrastructure testing in Europe, nor is there a railway test loop of this scale anywhere in the UK.
